PIA Press Release2005/12/13

Region 8 backs PGMA call for greater community spirit

Tacloban City (December 13) -- Well respected leaders in Eastern Visayas echo resident Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s call for “greater community spirit” to pervade among the members of ASEAN following the decision to draft a new charter for the association.

Presidential Adviser for Eastern Visayas, Secretary Victor Domingo that for unity, peace and development, it is really important to look beyond individual national interest.

Secretary Domingo said that the President is attending the ASEAN Summit to present the Philippines’ purposive agenda which will clearly redound to the benefit of the country and its people.

One of the agenda, Secretary Domingo continued, is that on energy. The country needs to pursue investments in energy infrastructure and seek wider collaboration in new and renewable energy and alternative fuels. This will keep our economies buzzing and insure the continuous supply of power in the next three decades.

Meanwhile, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, the spokesperson of the League of Governors of the Philippines, agrees with President Arroyo in her call for greater community spirit saying that the country needs a broader front of regional security paced by interfaith dialogue involving the ASEAN, the United States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, on counterterrorism cooperation.

He added that maritime security and joint border patrols are imperative to stop piracy and armed robbery as well as arms smuggling and most especially human trafficking along the sea lanes of the region. The country cannot do this alone, it needs the cooperation of the neighboring ASEAN countries.

Both Eastern Visayas leaders underscored the importance of President’s Arroyo’s agenda on the need to boldly step up the alleviation of poverty in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region through investments and tourism.

Both leaders called on the people of Region 8 to continue their faith in the government which is sincere in its goal of ensuring the country’s economic take off for the good of all Filipinos.

Secretary Domingo chairs the Regional KALAHI Convergence group, the main objective of which is promoting poverty alleviation in the far-flung conflict and poverty stricken barangays in the Region. Governor Evardone on the other hand, is working so hard to ameliorate his province which is considered as one of the poorest provinces in the country. (PIA 8) [top]